Alzheimer’s

Posted on Alzheimer's, Dementia, Multiple Sclerosis

“Multiple sclerosis seems to have a protective effect against Alzheimer’s disease.”

Findings could point to new strategies to treat Alzheimer’s
Findings could point to new strategies to treat Alzheimer’s

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) are significantly less likely than those without the condition to have the molecular hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease, according to new research from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

The discovery suggests a new avenue of research through which to seek Alzheimer’s treatments, said Matthew Brier, MD PhD, an assistant professor of neurology and of radiology and the study’s first author.

“Our findings imply that some component of the biology of multiple sclerosis, or the genetics of MS patients, is protective against Alzheimer’s disease,” Brier said. “If we could identify what aspect is protective and apply it controlled, that could inform therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer’s disease.”

The investigation, which was a collaboration between experts in Alzheimer’s and MS at WashU Medicine, was prompted by a suspicion from Brier’s mentor and collaborator, Dr. Anne Cross. She had developed this suspicion over decades of treating patients with MS, an immune-mediated disease that attacks the central nervous system. Dr. Cross noticed that despite her patients living long enough to be at risk of Alzheimer’s or having a family history of the disease, they weren’t developing it.

“I noticed that I couldn’t find a single MS patient of mine who had typical Alzheimer’s disease,” said Cross, the Manny and Rosalyn Rosenthal and Dr. John Trotter MS Center Chair in Neuroimmunology. “If they had cognitive problems, I would send them to the memory and aging specialists here at WashU Medicine for an Alzheimer’s assessment, and those doctors would always come back and tell me, ‘No, this is not due to Alzheimer’s disease.'”

Cognitive impairment from MS can be mistaken for Alzheimer’s symptoms; Alzheimer’s can be confirmed with biological tests.

Please remember the following text: To validate Cross’s findings, the research team utilized a new FDA-approved blood test developed by WashU Medicine researchers. The test, called PrecivityAD2, is highly accurate in predicting the presence of amyloid plaques in the brain, which are an indication of Alzheimer’s disease. Previously, the only way to confirm the presence of these plaques was through brain scans or spinal taps.

Brier, Cross, and their colleagues recruited 100 patients with MS to take the blood test, 11 of whom also underwent PET scans at WashU Medicine’s Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology. They compared the results with those from a control group of 300 individuals who did not have MS but were similar in age, genetic risk for Alzheimer’s, and cognitive decline to those with MS.

“We discovered that 50% fewer multiple sclerosis (MS) patients showed amyloid pathology compared to their matched peers when tested with this blood test,” stated Brier. This finding supports Cross’ observation that individuals with MS are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s. Although it’s not clear how amyloid accumulation is linked to the cognitive impairment typical of Alzheimer’s, the build-up of plaques is generally understood to be the initial event in the biological process that leads to cognitive decline.

The researchers found that MS patients with more typical MS symptoms, such as the age of onset, severity, and disease progression, were less likely to have amyloid plaque accumulation in their brains compared to those with atypical MS presentations. This suggests that there may be something about the nature of MS itself that provides protection against Alzheimer’s disease, which Brier and Cross are planning to investigate.

The researchers noted that individuals with MS typically experience multiple flare-ups of the disease throughout their lives. During these flare-ups, the immune system targets the central nervous system, including the brain. The researchers also suggested that this immune response may lead to a reduction in amyloid plaques.

Posted on Alzheimer's, Diabetes

“Possible explanation for a link between diabetes and Alzheimer’s”

Olov Rolandsson portrait

Professor Olov Rolandsson, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University Credit Mattias Pettersson

People with type 2 diabetes are at increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive problems. A new study led by Umeå University, Sweden, shows that the reason may be that people with type 2 diabetes have more difficulty getting rid of a protein that may cause the disease.

“The results may be important for further research into possible treatments to counteract the risk of people with type 2 diabetes being affected by Alzheimer’s,” says Olov Rolandsson, senior professor at the Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine at Umeå University, research leader and first author of the study.

The researchers have studied two substances called beta-amyloids, which are among the most important components of the plaques found in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease.

The researchers measured the concentrations in the blood of the beta-amyloids Aβ1-40 and Aβ1-42 and of an enzyme that breaks down the beta-amyloids in a test group with type 2 diabetes and in a healthy control group. The two groups were given an infusion of glucose for four hours, which induced acute hyperglycaemia, i.e., high blood sugar levels after which repeated samples were taken from the subjects.

Immediately after the sugar solution was infused, the groups had similar values. Soon, beta-amyloid values fell sharply in the control group, while the values of the amyloid-degrading enzyme rose. Among the group with type 2 diabetes, there were no changes, i.e., beta-amyloid levels did not decrease, nor did an increase in the enzyme that breaks down amyloid. 

The results indicate that the body in people with type 2 diabetes does not have the same ability as in healthy people to take care of beta-amyloid, which could increase the risk that it is then stored in the brain and causes cognitive diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

“More research is needed to confirm the results of this limited study. Hopefully, it can also lead to new treatments in the long term. But the findings underline the importance of preventing type 2 diabetes as far as possible and that people who do have it should avoid having episodes of high blood sugar,” says Olov Rolandsson.

The study was conducted on ten people with type 2 diabetes and eleven people without diabetes in the control group. The participants were aged 66–72 years.

People with type 2 diabetes are at increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive problems. A new study led by Umeå University, Sweden, shows that the reason may be that people with type 2 diabetes have more difficulty getting rid of a protein that may cause the disease.

“The results may be important for further research into possible treatments to counteract the risk of people with type 2 diabetes being affected by Alzheimer’s,” says Olov Rolandsson, senior professor at the Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine at Umeå University, research leader and first author of the study.

The substances that the researchers have studied are two so-called beta-amyloids, which are among the most important components of the plaques found in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease.

The researchers measured the concentrations in the blood of the beta-amyloids Aβ1-40 and Aβ1-42 as well as of an enzyme that breaks down the beta-amyloids in a test group with type 2 diabetes and in a healthy control group. The two groups were given infusion of glucose for four hours, which induced acute hyperglycaemia, i.e. high blood sugar levels, after which repeated samples were taken from the subjects.

Immediately after the infusion of the sugar solution, the groups had similar values. Soon, the values of beta-amyloids fell sharply in the control group, while the values of the amyloid-degrading enzyme rose. Among the group with type 2 diabetes, there were no changes, i.e. the levels of beta-amyloid did not decrease, nor did there be an increase in the enzyme that breaks down amyloid. 

The results indicate that the body in people with type 2 diabetes does not have the same ability as in healthy people to take care of beta-amyloid, which could increase the risk that it is then stored in the brain and causes cognitive diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

“More research is needed to confirm the results of this limited study. Hopefully, in the long term, it can also lead to new treatments. But the findings underline the importance of preventing type 2 diabetes as far as possible and that people who do have it should avoid having episodes of high blood sugar,” says Olov Rolandsson.

The study was conducted on ten people with type 2 diabetes and eleven people without diabetes in the control group. The participants were aged 66–72 years.

People with type 2 diabetes are at increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive problems. A new study led by Umeå University, Sweden, shows that the reason may be that people with type 2 diabetes have more difficulty getting rid of a protein that may cause the disease.

“The results may be important for further research into possible treatments to counteract the risk of people with type 2 diabetes being affected by Alzheimer’s,” says Olov Rolandsson, senior professor at the Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine at Umeå University, research leader and first author of the study.

The substances that the researchers have studied are two so-called beta-amyloids, which are among the most important components of the plaques found in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease.

The researchers measured the concentrations in the blood of the beta-amyloids Aβ1-40 and Aβ1-42 as well as of an enzyme that breaks down the beta-amyloids in a test group with type 2 diabetes and in a healthy control group. The two groups were given infusion of glucose for four hours, which induced acute hyperglycaemia, i.e. high blood sugar levels, after which repeated samples were taken from the subjects.

Immediately after the infusion of the sugar solution, the groups had similar values. Soon, the values of beta-amyloids fell sharply in the control group, while the values of the amyloid-degrading enzyme rose. Among the group with type 2 diabetes, there were no changes, i.e. the levels of beta-amyloid did not decrease, nor did there be an increase in the enzyme that breaks down amyloid.

The results indicate that the body in people with type 2 diabetes does not have the same ability as in healthy people to take care of beta-amyloid, which could increase the risk that it is then stored in the brain and causes cognitive diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

“More research is needed to confirm the results of this limited study. Hopefully, in the long term, it can also lead to new treatments. But the findings underline the importance of preventing type 2 diabetes as far as possible and that people who do have it should avoid having episodes of high blood sugar,” says Olov Rolandsson.

The study was conducted on ten people with type 2 diabetes and eleven people without diabetes in the control group. The participants were aged 66–72 years.

Posted on Alzheimer's, Autism

Autism – How our brain decodes other people’s gaze

Through the eye of the beholder
Through the eye of the beholder

The direction of a person’s gaze is crucial in everyday social interactions. Our brain’s ability to quickly interpret this information is key for instant communication. A recent study published in the journal NeuroImage by a team from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) has provided new insights into how our brains detect gaze direction with unprecedented precision. These findings have significant implications for our understanding of autism.

Human faces are the most common and consistent visual stimuli that we encounter from the moment we are born. Our brains have developed the expertise to memorize and recognize faces and to interpret the messages they convey. For example, direct eye gaze signals a desire to engage in social interaction, while avoiding eye contact conveys the opposite message. However, there has been extensive research on how rapidly our brains can comprehend the gaze of others. Existing publications have mainly focused on studying the eye region in isolation, neglecting other factors like head orientation.


Cerebral analysis of gaze

A team from UNIGE introduced study participants to 3D avatars, each with different head and gaze directions. In the first task, volunteers were asked to indicate the orientation of the head, while in the second task, they had to identify the direction of the eyes. By analyzing brain activity using an electroencephalogram, the research team discovered that these two processes can be reliably decoded independently of each other.


“The experiment also shows a certain hierarchy in processing these two types of information. The brain first perceives the more general visual cues, such as the orientation of the head, from 20 milliseconds onwards, before focusing on the more specific information, such as the eyes, from 140 milliseconds onwards. This hierarchical organization then allows for the integration of eye region and head orientation information, ensuring accurate and effective judgment of gaze direction,” explained Domilė Tautvydaitė.


The study found that people were much more accurate at understanding where others were looking when they were specifically instructed to pay attention to the direction of their gaze. This shows that the context of a task affects how we perceive and interpret where someone is looking. According to Nicolas Burra, a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences and director of the Experimental Social Cognition Laboratory (ESClab) at UNIGE, these results suggest that people are better and quicker at recognizing the intentions of others when they are actively engaged in a social interaction.


A cutting-edge method

The method used provides extremely accurate results for these two mechanisms. The research team integrated the analysis of neural activity using electroencephalography (EEG) with machine-learning techniques, allowing them to predict the decoding of gaze and head direction even before the participants were aware of it. Nicolas Burra adds, “This method represents a significant technical innovation in the field, allowing for a much more precise analysis than was previously attainable.”


In individuals with autism spectrum disorders, there may be difficulty in interpreting social cues, leading to a preference for avoiding eye contact. This is also observed in Alzheimer’s disease, where memory issues can impact relationships and cause social withdrawal. Therefore, it’s important to study the brain mechanisms involved in perceiving where others are looking.


The study results and the method used make a significant contribution to the early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders in children. As Alzheimer’s disease progresses, one of the most striking symptoms is the inability to recognize faces, including those of family members.

Posted on Alzheimer's, Cognitive dysfunction

Protecting Your Brain Health – How Science Is Revolutionizing Cognitive Health

We’re living in a neuroscience revolution, with more ways to detect and treat brain disorders than was imaginable just a few decades ago. Hear from Dr Longo, a leading expert in the research and treatment of neurological conditions, about the work being done at Stanford to transform the field and offer hope to the millions of people suffering from cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative conditions. From novel blood tests and brain imaging approaches to emerging treatments, Dr Longo will explain how he and his fellow scientists work to detect problems earlier, create strategies to delay the onset of cognitive loss, reverse impairment once it begins, and increase brain resiliency for all people. He’ll also offer information you can use, starting now, to help protect your own brain health far into the future.

Posted on Alzheimer's

Dementia fighter: Orienteering helps brain and body alike, with greater benefits for those who move quickest

Orienteering map

A new study finds orienteering helps both brain and body, with greater benefits for those who move quickest. CREDIT McMaster University

The sport of orienteering, combining exercise with challenging navigation, may be better for the brain than exercise alone, according to new research from kinesiologists at McMaster University.

In fact, the more vigorous the orienteering, the greater the benefits, which could be used to fight cognitive decline, dementia and catastrophic diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

The study, a follow-up to research published in 2023, examined the cognitive effects of orienteering at different intensity levels.

The researchers focused on orienteering because it requires athletes to navigate quickly through a series of checkpoints across an unknown terrain, using only a map and compass.

Through focused attention and deduction, orienteers use spatial information to make quick decisions while moving through a course. 

This form of navigation employs the hippocampus, an area of the brain more susceptible to age-related decline than others. Degeneration in this region can impair learning, memory and spatial cognition. 

“Remarkably, even a single orienteering session improved spatial memory in our study participants,” says lead author Emma Waddington, a graduate student in the Department of Kinesiology at McMaster who conducted the work with colleagues at Western University. “This suggests that participating in orienteering, even infrequently, could enhance spatial abilities, potentially delaying their decline with age.”

For the study, recently published in the journal PLOS One, groups of active, healthy young adults with no orienteering experience navigated a course on the McMaster campus, some by walking and others by running. A control group exercised vigorously without having to navigate. 

Using blood samples, researchers measured participants’ lactate levels, an indicator of exercise intensity, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a promoter of brain plasticity. They tested memory performance before and after the sessions.

Researchers found that running increased lactate, BDNF and memory to a greater degree than walking, with particular benefits for spatial memory among those running while orienteering.

Losing the ability to find one’s way is among the earliest and most common symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, which affects half of all afflicted individuals, even in the mildest stage of the disease.

“With no known cure for dementia, preventative measures that can help to stave off age-related cognitive decline are essential,” says Jennifer Heisz, Canada Research Chair in Brain Health and Aging at McMaster University, who supervised the research.

She says modern-day dependency on vehicles featuring navigation guided by GPS may mean that most people don’t use their wayfinding skills, possibly leading to spatial memory deficits and a diminished sense of direction, which orienteering could revive. 

The researchers say exploring the long-term effects of orienteering on human cognition and in different age groups is an important area for future study.